Funny how it wasn't a crisis for all the decades it was the other way round.

A very distressing C4 report tonight on pregnant women prisoners being handcuffed during childbirth, despite it being against MoJ policy. Those policies aren’t worth the paper they’re written on — the only way to keep pregnant women safe is to stop sending them to prison.

We're very excited that Liverpool will be joining the FDAC family. Their new service will officially open in April and we can't wait for families in the area to be able to benefit from the FDAC model. theguideliverpool.com/liverpool-to...

How can we support change and development in policies and practices to improve pre-birth services and achieve better outcomes for infants and their parents? Join us for an upcoming webinar on 20 January launching new Pre-birth Change Project resources. ow.ly/j3uG50UB3vy

Incredible project here: A new shop is giving survivors of domestic abuse the opportunity to sell their art. The Machynlleth enterprise is the brainchild of artist and domestic abuse survivor Nikki Pinto. www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/new-sho...

“You, boy, is big Tesco open on Boxing Day?”

New job alert 🚨 Director of Policy, Advocacy & Influencing Please take a look &/or share this rare opportunity to join @childrenssociety.bsky.social on our mission to improve children’s wellbeing. It’s all about creating big change & making impact! careers.childrenssociety.org.uk/recruitment/...

"Imagine being punished for the abuse you've endured." Women in Prison's open letter in @bigissue.com - signed by 100+ organisations and experts, we demand the end to unfair criminalisation of domestic abuse survivors. Survivors deserve support, not punishment. www.bigissue.com/opinion/dome...

Our programme of evidence-informed resources shares the latest research and information. Explore the most popular Research in Practice campaigns of 2024. ow.ly/4FU050Uu011

📢New All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Babies launched!👶The new Group's purpose is to champion the needs of vulnerable babies & will be led by the elected officers @mayaellismp.bsky.social @elsieblundellmp.bsky.social Patrick Spencer MP & Freddie van Mierlo MP. More details 👉bit.ly/4f8Ved6

"Peter Jackson LJ called for an expansion of FDAC – noting that the service offers “the best way of achieving real culture change”" @localgovlawyer.bsky.social reports on this year's Family Drug & Alcohol Court Annual Conference: ow.ly/rM8Y50UnEPN

Breaking the silence New Study to Focus on Deaf Survivors of Domestic Abuse Researchers will examine the impact of domestic abuse on families when children of deaf mothers are relied upon to interpret, highlighting the trauma these children may endure as co-victims. https://bit.ly/SPS-News-SocPol

In her appearance before the Justice Select Committee last week, the Lady Chief Justice spoke on the transformational power of Family Drug & Alcohol Courts. She highlighted the strong evidence showing the model works, saves the taxpayer money & is also effective in addressing domestic abuse.

💰 #DomesticAbuse funding continues to decline sharply whilst cases continue to rise. 📢 Longer-term funding would provide stability, positively impacting frontline staff and survivors on their journey to safety and recovery. #16Days #NoExcuse #VAWG #InvestInIdvas #Idva #Idaa

Deaths from conditions wholly attributable to alcohol have increased by 4.6% from 2022 to 2023 in England, reaching the highest number for the fourth year in a row. DHSC’s Alcohol Profile shows that 8,274 people died from alcohol-specific causes in... fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/loca...

Colleagues hosting online webinars / seminars. There have been a number of recent events (for eg on racial disproportionality or domestic abuse) that have been hacked and extreme and offensive videos shown. The hackers aren't attendees so can't be removed.

Our new report on race at the Bar presents a mixed picture: there has been some progress on access, retention, progression and culture, the overall diversity of the Bar is improving, but there is much more work to do. Read more: www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/rac...

🚨 The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that 2.3 million adults in England and Wales experienced #DomesticAbuse in the year ending March 2024. Read our full response. safelives.org.uk/news-views/r...

📉To this end, we want to see a national domestic abuse data dashboard which draws together qualitative and quantitative data from survivors, frontline domestic abuse services, Maracs and local authorities. Read our full response. safelives.org.uk/news-views/r...

When I wrote this article for Legal Action Magazine, I was half way through my 100 days without booze. Having made it to day 100, I think I may stay sober until the Family Drug and Alcohol Court is available in every family court in the country. 🥂 www.lag.org.uk/article/2162...

The inverse care law: people who need the most care are least likely to receive it. Julian Tudor Hart... (1971) 😩

I'm at the Links Group conference today hearing from a range of multi agency professionals about the links between the abuse of animals and the abuse of people.

Today our Deputy Director @vickicji.bsky.social is at the Links Group conference on recognising & acting on non-accidental injury & domestic & child abuse. The veterinary-led conference is a chance for multi-agency practitioners to explore the link between the abuse of animals & the abuse of people

We're delighted to host experts & Associates of the Centre, Dr Sheena Webb, consultant clinical psychologist with over 20 years’ experience in children & family services, & Nickii Webster, former Family Drug & Alcohol Court parent who'll draw on her experience of engaging in trauma-informed support.

Join us on 16th December 12.30-13.30 for the next of our Expert Voices events exploring trauma-informed practice within family justice & what this looks like in reality. Sign up here: ow.ly/m74I50UgNkJ

😞 White Ribbon exhibition in Hull highlights violence against women and girls Why don’t men get the gravity of violence against women? A new exhibition in Hull seeks accountability and an end to the silence By Angus Young @angusyoung61.bsky.social

Reminder deadline for applying is 5pm Monday (25/11)

In a cohort of 2.8 million, 2007-2020: Black, African, Caribbean or Black British, Mixed or multiple and Other ethnic groups were over-represented in public and private law proceedings and Asian British people over-represented in private law. Alrouh et al. 2022 www.nuffieldfjo.org.uk/resource/wha...

It’s great that FDACs are increasingly being recognised by the senior judiciary and by politicians

FDAC is a model which should be embraced by all courts. We can’t afford not to!

We were excited today to be at the Family Drug and Alcohol Court Annual Judge's Conference to celebrate the success of this powerful problem-solving court over the last year and throughout its 16 year history.

There are just a number of days left for social workers to record their CPD and apply to renew registration. Research in Practice has released a number of resources to support social workers - complete yours ahead of Saturday 30 November. www.researchinpractice.org.uk/all/news-vie...

Join us for our latest Expert Voices event where Dr Sheena will be discussing what it actually means to be trauma-informed, and Nickii Webster will be explaining how it feels to receive a trauma-informed service. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/expert-voi...

Tune into @lbc.co.uk at 14.00 today to hear me & @shelaghfogarty.bsky.social discuss the appalling news that more than 1 in 3 children are now growing up in poverty. 5.2 million kids. A rise of 5 percentage points in just 5 years. Social Metrics Commission report here; socialmetricscommission.org.uk

Yesterday, there was a major change in the criminal justice system that’s largely sneaked under the radar: the doubling of magistrates’ court sentencing powers. What does that actually mean, and is it good or bad?

This is very welcome. Anyone remotely interested in this issue should read in full - it’s a real page turner - Sir Andrew McFarlane’s excoriating judgment in this case. www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH.... If I had to pick one reason why the last government deserved to lose power, this was it.

Last week the CPS and National Police Council released a Joint Plan for Domestic Abuse. Lots to welcome in it and considering domestic abuse represents a third of all crime received by the CPS - so important to get it right www.cps.gov.uk/publication/... #DomesticAbuse #CoerciceControl

Great to see backing of The president of #familycourt here: www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

What an opportunity! 👇

I'm proud to be a Trustee for PET - a passionate & dedicated team helping countless people in prison access education courses. This is achieved despite a prison education system that the Inspectorate describe as "nowhere near good enough" and "in decline". Here, PET outlines how to transform that

This is wonderful! I did one with @purnasen.bsky.social for violence against women and girls with some of the same folk - you might find some others on here too go.bsky.app/4u3Rk6g

During Safeguarding Week, Maddie and Zhenya from the Leeds Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) team are delivering a free online training session on the FDAC model and service in Leeds. 🗓️ 18 Nov at 10:30 to 12:00. Booking details below: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/798f00...

The Independent Sentencing Review has today issued a Call for Evidence. Click on the link below to respond. consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-comm...

For those that are new to our work, find out more about our projects and campaigns on our website. Some detail on recent/current work linked below 🧵 www.agendaalliance.org/our-work/pro...

HMIP's survey of children and young people in YOIs reveals that more felt unsafe and fewer were getting any education than last year. The government must act to ensure that these young people can feel safe and get the skills they need to have a chance in life. www.linkedin.com/pulse/childr...

At the Centre for Justice Innovation, we are hiring a Family Justice Practice Officer, to support the design and delivery of our expanding family justice focus! Find out more and apply here by the 24th November: app.beapplied.com/apply/uzto2m...